Jet means in a thermoplastic yarn rebound texturizing apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a bounce crimping apparatus for texturizing multi-filament thermoplastic yarn including a yarn texturizing chamber, and means for introducing heated fluid into the yarn texturizing chamber for drawing yarn into the chamber, a foraminous surface transversely positioned across a longitudinal fluid outlet of the yarn texturizing chamber and a means for collecting texturized yarn in a condition substantially free from longitudinal tension; the improvement comprising a removable orifice member positioned within the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber including a central longitudinal passage operably coaxially positioned with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the yarn texturizing chamber, a first frustoconical surface fashioned upon the exterior of the orifice member for intimate engagement with a mating first frustoconical ledge fashioned within the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber, a second frustoconical surface fashioned upon the exterior of the orifice member operatively downstream from the first frustoconical surface for cooperation with a compatible second frustoconical ledge fashioned within the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber, the second frustoconical surface upon the orifice member and the second frustoconical ledge being operatively disposed in a mutually adjacent but spaced posture to form an annular orifice between the exterior of the orifice member and the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber, the means for introducing a heated fluid into the yarn texturizing chamber being connected to the chamber laterally between the first and second frustoconical surfaces wherein heated fluid may be injected into a plenum chamber interior of the yarn texturizing chamber defined by the interior wall of the yarn texturizing chamber, the exterior surface of the orifice member, first frustoconical surfaces and second frustoconical surfaces wherein heated fluid will exit from the interior plenum chamber through the annular orifice and thereby serve to draw multi-filament thermoplastic yarn through the longitudinal passage of the orifice member, heat the yarn and axially hurl the yarn against the foraminous surface to axailly compress and crimp the individual yarn filaments.

United States Patent [191 Guenther Jan. 14, 1975 JET MEANS IN A THERMOPLASTIC YARN REBOUND TEXTURIZING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Lloyd M. Guenther, Severna Park,

[73] Assignee: Chevron Research Company, San

Francisco, Calif.

22 Filed: Dec. 28, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 429,054

Breen et al. 28/l.4

Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent, or FirmBurns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis [5 7] ABSTRACT In a bounce crimping apparatus for texturizing multifilament thermoplastic yarn including a yarn texturizing chamber, and means for introducing heated fluid into the yarn texturizing chamber for drawing yarn into the chamber, a foraminous surface transversely positioned across a longitudinal fluid outlet of the yarn texturizing chamber and a means for collecting texturized yarn in a condition substantially free from longitudinal tension; the improvement comprising a removable orifice member positioned within the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber including a central longitudinal passage operably coaxially positioned with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the yarn texturizing chamber, a first frustoconical surface fashioned upon the exterior of the orifice member for intimate engagement with a mating first frustoconical ledge fashioned within the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber, a second frustoconical surface fashioned upon the exterior of the orifice member operatively downstream from the first frustoconical surface for cooperation with a compatible second frustoconical ledge fashioned within the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber, the second frustoconical surface upon the orifice member and the second frustoconical ledge being operatively disposed in a mutually adjacent but spaced posture to form an annular orifice between the exterior of the orifice member and the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber, the means for introducing a heated fluid into the yarn texturizing chamber being connected to the chamber laterally between the first and second frustoconical surfaces wherein heated fluid may be injected into a plenum chamber interior of the yarn texturizing chamber defined by the interior wall of the yarn texturizing chamber, the exterior surface of the orifice member, first frustoconical surfaces and second frustoconical surfaces wherein heated fluid will exit from the interior plenum chamber through the annular orifice and thereby serve to draw multi-filament thermoplastic yarn through the longitudinal passage of the orifice member, heat the yarn and axially hurl the yarn against the foraminous surface to axailly compress and crimp the individual yarn filaments.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 1 75 SHEET 2 UP 2 .IIET MEANS IN A THERMOPLASTIC YARN REBOUND TEXTIJRIZING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for texturizing synthetic thermoplastic yarn. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved apparatus for bounce crimping thermoplastic yarn.

Synthetic thermoplastic yarn materials, as produced, are composed of continuous, straight, smooth filaments. Such yarns have little bulk, and their utility in textile applications is rather limited.

In order to enhance the bulk and texture of synthetic yarns as required for many end uses, a variety of crimping processes have been used in the past. For thermoplastic yarns, a basic technique is to bend the yarn filaments and heat the yarn while the filaments are in bent or crimped configurations.

Recently, a basic advance has been achieved in texturizing thermoplastic yarn. This texturizing technique, known as a rebound or bounce crimping process, yields strikingly improved results as far as crimp quality is concerned.

Bounce crimping entails hurling yarn, by a heated fluid, through a jet in a continuous stream-like flow against a foraminous surface upon which the yarn impinges and from which the yarn instantaneously rebounds or bounces. The impact of the yarn upon the foraminous surface axially buckles and crimps individual filaments of the yarn while the heated fluid passes through the foraminous surface. The texturized yarn progresses without tension and substantially by rebound inertia away from the crimping zone and is guided to a collection station where the yarn is heated and then cooled to heat set the crimp prior to winding upon a storage spool.

Thermoplastic yarn texturized by the foregoing bounce crimping process possesses, inter alia, excep tional covering capability and a high degree of resiliency as disclosed in U.S. Miller et al Pat. No. 3,696,848 issued Aug. 29, I972.

The basic process and apparatus for practicing the process is featured in U.S. Clarkson Pat. No. 3,665,567 issued May 30, 1972. In brief summary, the Clarkson structure entails feeding a yarn into a texturizing chamher by ajet of steam and hurling the yarn longitudinally against a foraminous screen. The yarn is thereby crimped or texturized and freely rebounds laterally through a passage from which it drops down to a receiver for heat setting. The receiver entails a first heating Zone to heat the texturized yarn and a downstream cooling zone to cool and heat set the crimped or texturized yarn. Once the texturized yarn is heat set it is linearly drawn out of the cooling zone and wound upon a spool for storage.

Notwithstanding singular advantages provided the synthetic textile industry by the above-noted Clarkson bounce crimping process and apparatus, room for significant improvement remains. One area of particular concern from the standpoint of actual commercial yarn manufacturing operations has been a degree of irregularity, or lack of uniformity, in the yarns produced through use of the bounce crimp process.

The foregoing noted irregularities are attributable at least in part to the texturizing chamber structure. In this connection the texturizing chamber includes an elongate slender yarn tube which passes through a process steam plenum chamber formed by a plumbing tee. The plumbing tee is connected through a steam valve to a steam pipe so that a high volume of steam may be fed into the plenum chamber as selectively regulated by the valve. The slender tube passes completely through the steam plenum chamber and terminates at the upper end of a yarn passage chamber. The steam plenum chamber fluidically communicates with the yarn passage chamber so that steam from the plenum chamber may pass downwardly about the slender yarn tube and into the yarn passage chamber to pick up the yarn and hurl it against a surface for texturizing.

The slender yarn is held in a coaxial posture with respect to the yarn passage chamber by means of a pacl ing gland at an upper end and a plurality of struts extending from the lower end of the slender yarn tube to the interior walls of the yarn passage chamber.

A high volume of process steam is desirable as far as imparting good crimp characteristics to the individual filaments of the yarn is concerned, however, high vol umes of steam impose severe mechanical loading con ditions upon the slender yarn tube and its lower sup porting struts. In this connection, severe lateral loading condition occasioned by steam from the plumbing tee may tend to vibrate the tube or push the outlet end of the tube in an asymmetric posture with respect to the surrounding yarn passage chamber. Once this occurs an irregular possibly swirling pattern of steam engages the yarn at the outlet of the slender yarn tube. Such irregularities in steam flow characteristics accordingly produce variations in the finally texturized yarn filaments.

It would therefore be highly desirable to provide a bounce crimping apparatus wherein high steam flow rates may be achieved within the yarn texturizing chamber without concomitantly producing vibrations, asymmetrical conditions or swirling steam flow within the yarn texturing chamber.

Moreover, the previously noted slender yarn tube and somewhat delicate mounting structure limit adjustment of the mechanism to rather skilled personnel who are able to visually adjust placement of the slender yarn tube so as to produce the most advantageous results. Such delicate adjustment is time consuming and requires considerable attention, particularly during a start up operation when a yarn of a different denier is being texturized with respect to a previously completed texturizing operation.

This adjustment problem is greatly accentuated when several units, such as forty or more, are running at the same time and each unit must be matched to the rest in order to produce an overall uniform texturizing as required in large volume commercial operations.

Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide bounce crimping apparatus which may be readily optimized for texturizing yarns of different deniers by rela tively unskilled personnel.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects:

In light of the foregoing, it is a general object of the invention to provide an improved yarn rebound texturizing apparatus which will obviate or minimize deficiencies and provide enhanced operating characteristics of the type previously described.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide an improved bounce crimping apparatus wherein uniformity of the texturized yarn may be maximized.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved bounce crimping apparatus which may accommodate elevated steam pressures and flow rates without substantially sacrificing uniformity of the texturizing process.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved bounce crimping apparatus which may be quickly and reliably adjusted to maximize the texturizing process for different denier yarns.

It is a related object of the invention to provide an improved bounce crimping apparatus which may be readily adapted to yarns of different deniers without requiring the attention of highly trained or technical personnel.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an improved bounce crimping apparatus which may be quickly and accurately set up to produce optimum and uniform texturizing by a plurality of parallel simultaneously running units.

Brief Summary A bounce crimping apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention intended to achieve at least some of the foregoing objects includes a yarn texturizing chamber, a means for introducing heated fluid, such as steam, into the yarn texturizing chamber for drawing yarn into the chamber, a foraminous surface transversely positioned across a longitudinal fluid outlet of the yarn texturizing chamber, a means for collecting texturized yarn in a condition substantially free from longitudinal tension and a concurrently removable orifice member or plug positioned within the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber. The removable orifice plug includes a central longitudinal passage operably coaxially positioned with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the yarn texturizing chamber, a first frustoconical surface fashioned upon the exterior of the orifice plug for intimate engagement with a mating first frustoconical ledge fashioned within the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber. The plug is further fashioned with a second frustoconical surface upon the exterior surface thereof operatively downstream from the first frustoconical surface for cooperation with a compatible second frustoconical ledge fashioned within the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber. The second frustoconical surface upon the orifice and the second frustoconical ledge being operatively disposed in a mutually adjacent but spaced posture to form an annular steam orifice between the exterior of the orifice plug and the interior of the yarn texturizing chamber.

The means for introducing a heated fluid, such as steam, into the yarn texturizing chamber is connected to the chamber in an operative posture laterally between the first and second frustoconical surfaces wherein steam may be substantially uniformly injected into a plenum chamber within the yarn texturizing chamber defined by the interior wall of the yarn texturizing chamber, the exterior surface of the orifice means, the first frustoconical surfaces and the second frustoconical surfaces wherein steam spews from the interior plenum chamber through the annular orifice and thereby serves to draw multi-filament thermoplastic yarn through the longitudinal passage of the orifice, heats the yarn and axially hurls the yarn against the foraminous surface to axially compress and crimp the individual filaments.

THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partially broken away, of a bounce crimping apparatus for texturizing synthetic thermoplastic continuous filament yarns;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along section line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and discloses an improved yarn texturizing jet according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of one side of a readily replaceable jetting orifice member according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along section line 4-4 in FIG. 2 and discloses internal and external steam plenum chambers of the yarn texturizing chamber according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Basic Structure of the Invention The improvement of the subject invention is in specific combination with a bounce crimping apparatus according to the above referenced Clarkson U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,567. The entire disclosure of this Clarkson patent is hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth at length. Briefly, however, the basic bounce crimping structure of the subject combination invention may be appreciated by reference to FIG. 1 which discloses an elevational view, partially broken away, of a bounce crimping apparatus 10.

A multi-filament synthetic thermoplastic yarn 12 is fed from a supply package (not shown) to a first driven godet roll 16 with skewed separator roll 14 and then to a second driven godet roll 20 with skewed separator roll 18. Godet rolls 16 and 20 may be heated and rolls l8 and 20 advance the yarn at a much greater speed than do rolls 14 and 16 so that the yarn 12 is drawn between the two sets of rolls.

From roll 18 the yarn l2 advances to a yarn texturizing station indicated generally by reference character 22 and then into a heating chamber 24 where the yarn is heated in a loose mass substantially free from tension. The yarn passes downstream of the heating chamber 24 into a cooling chamber 26 where the yarn is cooled again in a loose mass substantially free from tension. The yarn 12 is then drawn from the cooling chamber 26 in the form of a strand over idler rolls 27, 28 and 29 by a pair of rolls 32 and 34. From godet roll 32 the yarn l2 advances over idler roll 36 to a standard takeup mechanism where the yarn is wound in a package 38 for storage and shipment.

Referring to FIG. 2 the yarn texturizing station 22 includes an adapter housing 40 having a longitudinally extending central bore 42. The external lower end of the adapter housing 40 is fashioned with a convex configuration surrounding the bore 42. A member 44 having a foraminous surface, such as a screen, closes the lower end opening of the bore 42 to the passage of yarn while simultaneously permitting steam to longitudinally pass through the openings in the screen 44.

The adapter housing 40 is fitted with a coaxial collar 46 which serves as an adapter for connection of the bore 42 with a steam exhaust conduit 48. By the provision of the exhaust conduit, steam passing through the screen 44 may be drawn off by a blower (not shown).

The above described texturizing station 22 serves to texturize or crimp thermoplastic yarn by the technique of rebound or bounce crimping. In this connection, thermoplastic yarn 12 is drawn into the texturizing station, heated by steam and advanced into the bore 42 by an improved orifice and steam introduction assembly to be discussed in detail hereinafter. As the live process steam picks up the yarn 12 it hurls the yarn longitudinally with great force downwardly through the bore 42 toward the screen 44 at a centermost point of the concave portion of the screen. The bulk of the steam passes through screen 42 while the yarn rebounds or bounces from the screen 44 instantaneously in a continuously moving strand-like stream flowing upwardly and to the left, past a relatively thin side wall 50 within the adapter housing and into a lateral exit opening 52.

A hollow cylindrical yarn guide tube 54 is held next to the adapter housing 40 by means of an encircling spring 56 and is in communication with the exit opening 52. The yarn 12 rebounds or bounces from the screen 44 and contacts a limiting barrier which may be formed by an upper wall portion 58 of the adapter housing or the upper surface of tube 54.

The tube 54 is relatively short and is provided with a drop wire mechanism 60 which falls across the end of the tube 54 to limit lateral movement of the rebound yarn. The wire 60 is urged downwardly by gravity under its own slight weight about a pivot point 62 and it may be lifted slightly by the force of the rebound yarn thereagainst so that lateral movement of the rebound yarn is retarded by the wire 60 such that the yarn falls into a receiving tube 64 of the previously noted heating chamber 24.

The yarn 12 is a multi-filament continuous thermoplastic yarn. As is well known, such yarn is formed of a multiplicity of very small filaments. Occasionally, one of these filaments may become embedded in an opening in screen 44. When this occurs the oncoming length of this embedded filament will be fed out through tube 54 and will tend to hang through an elongate aperture 66 fashioned within the lowermost portion of the tube 54. The length of the hanging loop will increase as the yarn continues to feed. A pair of driven nip rolls 68 and '70 underlie the slot 66 and counterrotate in a direction so as to pull on a loosely hanging filament and eventually pull the embedded portion of the filament from screen 44 so that the yarn texturizing process may continue uninterrupted.

As noted in FIG. 1, the heating chamber 24 consists of an outer sleeve of insulation 70 which surrounds a steam chamber 72, which in turn encompasses an inner cylindrical yarn treating chamber 64. Steam is circulated through chamber 72 to heat the wall about the yarn treating chamber 64, and consequently to heat the yarn contained within the chamber 64.

The rebounded texturized yarn 12 falls into the yarn receiving chamber 64 in a condition substantially free of longitudinal tension. As the yarn 12 is withdrawn from the cooling chamber 26 by godet rolls 32 and 34, the loose mass of yarn within the heating chamber 24 progresses downwardly through the heating chamber.

To further assist in heating the yarn within chamber 64, hot air bleed tubes 76 are disposed vertically within the chamber 64 and are provided with apertures spaced at regular intervals throughout the longitudinal extent thereof. Air heated in the steam chamber 72 is blown from the apertures within bleed tubes 76 into chamber 64 to circulate through the mass of yarn within the chamber 64 and insure uniform heating of the texturized yarn.

As previously noted, immediately beneath the heating chamber 24 there is disposed a cooling chamber 26 comprising the bottom leg of a J-tube formed by the heating chamber 24 and the cooling chamber 26. The yarn passes through the cooling chamber 26 still in a loose untensioned mass. To assist in cooling the yarn, two air bleed tubes 7 8 are disposed inside and on opposite sides of the cooling chamber 26. Air at room temperature is blown through the cooling tubes 78 and out through apertures within the tubes along the longitudinal length thereof to circulate through the yarn mass to cool the yarn and exit through an opening 80 within a top portion of the cooling chamber 26.

Not until this point when the yarn has been fully heat set and cooled is the texturized yarn subject to longitudinal tension. As noted in FIG. 1, the yarn 12 isnow withdrawn from the cooling chamber 26 over a baffle 82 and through an eyelet 84 which tends to remove gross tangles in the yarn. To further remove any persistent tangles, a series of tension vanes 86, 88, and 92 are provided. These vanes are simply thin pieces of sheet metal shaped to close the chamber and pivot at hinges 94, 96, 98 and 100, respectively, so that gravity will pivot the tension vanes against a wall 102 of the chamber.

The yarn thus untangled advances in a substantially linear form over idler rolls 27, 28 and 29 by pull-out godet rolls 32 and 34 to be wound upon a package 38 in a conventional inanner as previously noted. Improved Jet Texturizing Apparatus As specifically illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 an improved jet texturizing apparatus 100 forming a part of the yarn texturizing station 22 is disclosed. The improved jet texturizing apparatus 100 includes an upwardly projecting cylindrical portion 102 of the yarn texturizing adapter housing 40 and a readily replaceable orifice member or plug 104 coaxially positioned within the interior of the cylindrical projection 102.

The orifice plug 104 (FIG. 3) includes a central longitudinally extending passage 105 operable for receiving a yarn 12 to be texturized. The plug 104 is further fashioned with a first frustoconical exterior surface 106 adjacent an upper end thereof and a second frustoconical surface adjacent a lower end of the orifice plug. A conical extension of the first frustoconical surface 106 is spaced from a conical extension of the second frustoconical surface 108 by a small distance 110. This spacing operably forms an annular steam jetting orifice in a manner to be discussed hereinafter.

Returning now to FIG. 2, the replaceable orifice plug 104 is designed to be coaxially received within the extension 102 of the yarn texturizing housing wherein the first frustoconical surface 106 of the orifice plug intimately mates with a first frustoconical ledge 112, machined upon an interior surface of the cylindrical projection 102. A cylindrical bore 114 is machined into the projection and terminates into a second frustoconical ledge 116 lying upon an extension of the conical surface of ledge 112. The second frustoconical ledge 116 provides a smooth transition between the bores 114 and 42.

The axial extent of bore 114 is designed with respect to the axial extent of the orifice plug 104 such that the second frustoconical surface 108 of the plug lies in a mutually adjacent but spaced posture with respect to the second frustoconical ledge 116. The small spacing provided between the second frustoconical surfaces 108 and 116 at 118 provides an annular aperture or orifice for the uniform introduction of steam into the bore 42.

The orifice plug 104 is rigidly held within the projecting cylindrical extension 102 of the yarn texturizing housing 40 by the provision of a backing plug 120 having a central longitudinal aperture 122 for guiding a thermoplastic yarn 12 into the orifice plug bore 105. Exteriorly the plug 120 is provided with threads 124 which mate with interior threads 126 fashioned upon the internal surface of the extension 102. By the provision of this threaded engagement, the plug 102 may be tightly torqued down to abutting engagement with the orifice plug 104 to securely and rigidly mount the first and second frustoconical surfaces 106 and 112 in matingengagement.

When the orifice plug 104 is mounted in an operative position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, within the bore 114 of the texturizing housing extension 102, an internal or first process steam plenum chamber 128 is formed. This internal plenum chamber 128 is defined by the bore 114 of the extension 102, an external cylindrical surface 129 of the orifice plug 104, the first frustoconical surfaces 106 and 112 and the second frustoconical surfaces 108 and 116. This internal steam plenum chamber 128 is operable to uniformly deliver steam through the annular orifice at 118 and without producing an undesired erratic and/or swirling flow.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 2 and 4 a heated fluid adapter 130 is disclosed and is designed to be received upon the texturizing housing extension 102 at an elevational location coincident with that of the orifice plug 104. The heating fluid adapter unit 130 includes an annular housing 132 having a central annular bore 134 which forms in combination with the exterior surface of the yarn texturizing housing 102, a steam plenum chamber 135 exterior of the housing.

Steam is delivered into plenum chamber 135 through an adapter fitting 136 of a conventional design which is connected to a source of live process steam through a regulator valve 138, note FIG. 1.

The annular housing 132 is further provided with an upper annular chamber 140 which receives a first sealing O-ring 142 and a lower annular chamber 144 for receiving a second sealing O-ring 146. The upper and lower sealing assemblies serve to sealingly engage the exterior surface of the texturizing housing extension 102 and prevent the passage of steam from the plenum chamber 135 into the ambient environment.

A plurality of apertures 150 are radially fashioned through the texturizing housing extension 102 and serve to fluidically communicate the exterior steam plenum chamber 135 and the interior steam plenum chamber 128 between the orifice plug 104 and the bore 114, previously noted.

Accordingly a large volume of live process steam passing through regulator valve 138 is first introduced into exterior annular plenum chamber 135 to reduce pulsations and swirling flow and then uniformly through radial passages 150 into interior plenum chamber 128 and therefrom in a substantially uniform and non-swirling axially directed manner through the annular orifice at 118 to pick up the yarn 12 to be texturized and uniformly hurl the yarn longitudinally through bore 42 against the foraminous surface 44.

By the provision of the slip-on steam adapter or collar 130 and the threaded backing plug 120 the improved jet texturizing apparatus may be readily disassembled and fitted with a replaceable drop-in orifice plug 104 of a previously determined dimensional gap so as to maximize texturizing of the selected denier yarn by unskilled personnel.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR ADVANTAGES In describing a preferred embodiment of an improved jet texturizing apparatus 100 in combination with a bounce crimping apparatus, several highly advantageous aspects of the invention have been delineated.

in brief summary, the ruggedized orifice plug 104 and frustoconical mating arrangement provides a highly rigid and accurate positioning of the orifice plug 104 within the jetting structure such that irregularities in the texturizing process through a vibrating or asymmetrically displaced jetting orifice may be minimized.

Moreover, the provision of first and second plenum chambers and the plurality of radial apertures therebetween tends to eliminate or at least minimize any tendency for a swirling flow of process steam through the annular jetting orifice and thus further facilitates a uniform yarn bounce crimping process.

Additionally, the readily replaceable character of the orifice plug enables several plugs with varying undercuts 110, so as to produce variant annular orifice openings, to be utilized such that an unskilled operator may readily change orifice plugs and thus orifice size to optimize the bounce crimping operation for various denier yarns. This adjustment capability is further facilitated by the readily removable steam adapter housing which may be slid on and off of the texturizing housing extension 102 during a change-over process.

Yet further, a highly significant advantage provided by the subject improved jetting structure is the ability to accurately machine and maintain accurate tolerances within the jetting structure so that uniformity of crimping operations from unit to unit may be maximized without relying upon fine adjustments by skilled technicians during a bounce crimping operation.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, deletions, modifications and substitutions or other changes not specifically described may be made which will fall within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A bounce crimping apparatus for texturizing multifilament thermoplastic yarn including:

a yarn texturizing housing having an inlet, a fluid outlet longitudinally aligned with said inlet and a lateral yarn outlet,

means for introducing a heated fluid into said yarn texturizing housing for drawing yarn into said chamber,

a foraminous surface positioned across said fluid out let of said housing, said heated fluid introduced into said housing for drawing yarn into said housing further serving to hurl the yarn against said foraminous surface to axially compress and crimp the yarn filaments and rebound the yarn through said lateral outlet, and

means for collecting the crimped yarn while maintaining the yarn substantially free from longitudinal tension,

the improvement comprising:

orifice means removably positioned within the interior of said yarn texturizing housing, said orifice means including a longitudinal passage operatively coaxially positioned with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said yarn texturizing housing for receiving multi-filament thermoplastic yarn to be crimped within said yarn texturizing housing,

a first frustoconical surface fashioned upon the exterior of said orifice means for intimate engagement with a mating first frustoconical ledge fashioned within the interior of said yarn texturizing housing,

a second frustoconical surface fashioned upon the exterior of said orifice means operatively downstream from said first frustoconical surface for cooperation with a compatible second frustoconical ledge fashioned within the interior of said yarn texturizing housing, said second frustoconical surface upon said orifice means and said second frustoconical ledge being operatively disposed in a mutually adjacent but spaced posture to form an annular orifice between the exterior of said orifice means and the interior of said yarn texturizing housing; and

said means for introducing a heated fluid into said yarn texturizing housing being connected to said yarn texturizing housing laterally between said first and second frustoconical surfaces wherein heated fluid may be injected into a plenum chamber interior of said yarn texturizing housing defined by the interior wall of said yarn texturizing housing, the exterior surface of said orifice means, said first frustoconical surfaces, and said second frustoconical surfaces wherein heated fluid will exit from said interior plenum chamber through said annular orifice and thereby serve to draw multi-filament thermoplastic yarn through said longitudinal passage of said orifice means, heat the yarn and axially hurl the yarn against said foraminous surface to axially compress and crimp the individual yarn filaments. 2. A bounce crimping apparatus for texturizing multifilament thermoplastic yarn as defined in claim 1 5 wherein the improvement further comprises:

said means for introducing a heated fluid into said yarn texturizing housing including,

an annular fluid housing operably positionable about said yarn texturizing housing and defining in cooperation with the exterior surface of said yarn texturizing housing an annular plenum exteriorly about said yarn texturizing housing,

a first annular seal means connected to said annular fluid housing for sealing engagement with the exterior surface of said yarn texturizing housing operably above said exterior plenum chamber,

a second annular seal means connected to said annular fluid housing for sealing engagement with the exterior surface of said yarn texturizing housing operably below said exterior plenum chamber,

means for introducing heated fluid into said fluid housing plenum chamber, and

means for radially introducing fluid from said fluid housing exterior plenum chamber into said texturizing housing interior. 

1. A bounce crimping apparatus for texturizing multi-filament thermoplastic yarn including: a yarn texturizing housing having an inlet, a fluid outlet longitudinally aligned with said inlet and a lateral yarn outlet, means for introducing a heated fluid into said yarn texturizing housing for drawing yarn into said chamber, a foraminous surface positioned across said fluid outlet of said housing, said heated fluid introduced into said housing for drawing yarn into said housing further serving to hurl the yarn against said foraminous surface to axially compress and crimp the yarn filaments and rebound the yarn through said lateral outlet, and means for collecting the crimped yarn while maintaining the yarn substantially free from longitudinal tension, the improvement comprising: orifice means removably positioned within the interior of said yarn texturizing housing, said orifice means including a longitudinal passage operatively coaxially positioned with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said yarn texturizing housing for receiving multi-filament thermoplastic yarn to be crimped within said yarn texturizing housing, a first frustoconical surface fashioned upon the exterior of said orifice means for intimate engagement with a mating first frustoconical ledge fashioned within the interior of said yarn texturizing housing, a second frustoconical surface fashioned upon the exterior of said orifice means operatively downstream from said first frustoconical surface for cooperation with a compatible second frustoconical ledge fashioned within the interior of said yarn texturizing housing, said second frustoconical surface upon said orifice means and said second frustoconical ledge being operatively disposed in a mutually adjacent but spaced posture to form an annular orifice between the exterior of said orifice means and the interior of said yarn texturizing housing; and said means for introducing a heated fluid into said yarn texturizing housing being connected to said yarn texturizing housing laterally between said first and second frustoconical surfaces wherein heated fluid may be injected into a plenum chamber interior of said yarn texturizing housing defined by the interior wall of said yarn texturizing housing, the exterior surface of said orifice means, said first frustoconical surfaces, and said second frustoconical surfaces wherein heated fluid will exit from said interior plenum chamber through said annular orifice and thereby serve to draw multi-filament thermoplastic yarn through said longitudinal passage of said orifice means, heat the yarn and axially hurl the yarn against said foraminous surface to axially compress and crimp the individual yarn filaments.
 2. A bounce crimping apparatus for texturizing multi-filament thermoplastic yarn as defined in claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises: said means for introducing a heated fluid into said yarn texturizing housing including, an annular fluid housing operably positionable about said yarn texturizing housing and defining in cooperation with the exterior surface of said yarn texturizing housing an annular plenum exteriorly about said yarn texturizing housing, a first annular seal means connected to said annular fluid housing for sealing engagement with the exterior surface of said yarn texturizing housing operably above said exterior plenum chamber, a second annular seal means connected to said annular fluid housing for sealing engagement with the exterior surface of said yarn texturizing housing operably below said exterior plenum chamber, means for introducing heated fluid into said fluid housing plenum chamber, and means for radially introducing fluid from said fluid housing exterior plenum chamber into said texturizing housing interior. 